The West Fargo Education Association and Fargo Education Association - local affiliates of the North Dakota Education Association - recently joined together to promote their professional image in the community as educators, and to increase the awareness of early reading and reading readiness.

They emphasized the importance of reading throughout life with activities that occurred throughout the community during "Read Across America Week" on March 1-5, and throughout the month of March.

WFEA and FEA collected used or nearly-new books during "Read Across America Week" in the West Fargo and Fargo School Districts. The books were donated by school staff from both districts, and given to parents and agencies responsible for child development throughout the community.

The books were presented to the Women's YWCA, the Family Health Center and the Homeless Shelter by Kim Belgarde, FEA President, and Joan Connor, WFEA President, on behalf of the schools.

Belgarde and Connor also presented a total of 150 new "Books for Babies" on March 3, to the Fargo MeritCare Health System and Innovis Health System for parents of newborns.

WFEA and FEA encouraged teachers to join in and celebrate the 13th annual National Education Association's "Read Across America Day" on March 2, the birthday of Dr. Suess; the author whose books epitomize reading fun. Both school districts had a "Jeans Day," in which a staff member could wear jeans with a $1 donation. The money collected from both schools was donated March 16, to Jane Greminger of the Nokomis Center to purchase educational materials.